Advice on electrical systems

[Inquisitor]

This project is probably for next winter, but I'd like to get started on the research and get your advice. Some of this winter's projects are affected by the items I pick. I've started researching this on other sites dedicated to off-grid and RV powering (ref 1 - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoj6Rx ... Jme-5dnN0Q) , but I think it is very important to bring in the marine aspects and the Mac specifically and can think of no better place for that slant. The items I list below are just so we have a common place to start. If your experience suggests alternatives or negatives about these, please suggest. I am price conscious, but if something more expensive clearly offers superior traits related to our boats, bring it on.

• Solar Panels
  
  Nominally, I'm looking for something around 200W total. I picked two 100W panels (vs a single 160 or 200w panel) for redundancy and since this size appears to be a "standard" and is easily shipped. If I have to replace one a decade down the road, it'll be likely that one of the same size will be available. I'm currently looking at this model. They have good Amazon reviews and (ref 1) found in tests that these output as much or more than most others - including some monocrystalline panels. RICH SOLAR 100W 12V - https://www.amazon.com/Richsolar-Polycr ... B07DNP14JY
• Charge Controller
  
  This was almost and afterthought until I ran across this post by paula_ke - viewtopic.php?p=332067#p332067 and decided that RF interference is exactly the kind of advice the other sites did not even mention.
  https://www.diysolarforu.com/store/p6/S ... oller.html
• Battery
  
  I haven't decided if I can bite off a lithium battery for the house battery yet, but the lighter weight, 3x power storage for the same volume and longer life are compelling. I was looking at this because (ref 1) mentioned it and it has Bluetooth connectivity so I can monitor it.
  https://www.batteryspace.com/lifepo4-re ... assed.aspx
• Inverter
  
  I am trying to keep everything 12V operational instead of wasting energy converting to 120 VAC simply to be converted back to DC to charge a laptop. But I'll need it for some necessities. (like a blender ) I have no suggestions for this category.

I appreciate you all. Thanks.

[Starscream]

I did the solar project a couple of winters ago. You can see the post I made about it here:
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=27054

I chose two flexible 50W panels, originally planning to wire them in parallel in case one was shaded, but I'm pretty sure I changed that to series. I'd have to check to confirm that I actually did the change. 100W is more than enough for me, especially without refrigeration.

I chose an MPPT controller with optional status output. It is nice to have a graphical display that tells you all about where the power is coming from and going to.

You can get 12V plug-style laptop chargers that plug right into the standard 12V socket. They look just like normal power supplies, but plug into a 12V outlet: https://www.amazon.ca/Car-Charger-Dell- ... 57&sr=8-15 Just make sure that it provides enough power for your particular laptop. Won't help with the blender tho.

For the inverter, I chose this: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00153 ... UTF8&psc=1 but haven't installed it yet. It looks and feels very solid. I plan hide the inverter somewhere in the bilge, above the waterline, and make a little extension cord out of marine wire to power a standard 120V plug somewhere on the galley, probably. I think it will look a lot cleaner like that, as if the plug was part of the boat. Currently we are using a 150W inverter that plugs into a 12V socket, but it can just barely keep up with a small laptop.

I mounted the solar panels on velcro on our bimini top. Been fine for a couple of years now, although it would be nice to have a hard-mount. With the solar installed I have never come close to draining battery #1, even on the hook for a few days with 5 on board. Our main consumers are the cabin and anchor lights, laptops and devices, anchor alarm, pressure water and macerator pump.

[Starscream]

Here is some more detailed info on the thought process:
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=26542

[Inquisitor]

I have read those threads, but chose to start a new one because things have changed so much. First, most of the links and pictures on those are missing. Some links are available, but the product is no longer available. Plus, prices have changed a bunch... thus different advice might be appropriate. Here are things that I'd ask for your input.

(1) Panels - I see many of your all's recommendations are for flexible solar panels. I've gone through many of this guy's YouTube channel to learn about panel systems. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... d49SfcVGFn Although, he does a review of flexible panels, he states in the first ten seconds that he would not recommend any of them. He also mounts them fairly permanently so they wouldn't flex in his experience, whereas I imagine many of you are either fixing them to a flexible Bimini or rolling and unrolling on a regular basis.

I'd be curious to how your panels are holding up and how many times you've deployed them. I think I'm going with rigid panels because of longevity AND because I want to mount them behind an arch. From what I understand, if they are even slightly covered up, output drops significantly. Having the boom/sail cover one on the coach roof would seem to fall into this category. This video at 3 minutes talks about the drop. Summary: drop form 65W to 12W.

(2) Charge Controller PWM v MPPT - Although I'd go with the MPPT for the efficiency gains alone, the major decision not mentioned in those threads was PWM and cheap MPPT was how it interfered with the radio. To me saving $20 at the expense of radio interference seems like a really bad idea. I'd like other's experience here.

(3) Batteries - One link had AGM batteries. 3.2 kWh, 156 lbs $600 - To get any life out of these you can only use 25% of them. At 25% discharge, you get 3000 cycles. So you can use 0.8 kWh.
The battery I'm suggesting is 1.3 kWh, 33 lbs for $680 - This price includes Bluetooth monitoring via an app. This article https://www.powertechsystems.eu/home/te ... e-lifepo4/ says for 3000 cycles you can discharge it to 100%... So you can use 1.3 kWh. The only advantage I see for the AGM is it provides more ballast.

(4) Inverter - I haven't really started researching this item. Is seems the biggest decision is pure sine wave or not. Where is one OK and the other not? I understand that these draw a great deal of power even if you don't have any AC device on them. I'm thinking I'll have a convenient switch say next to the galley AC outlet that actually disconnects the DC to the inverter. Is that reasonable or advisable?

VBR

[Jimmyt]

Thanks for posting this. This is in my future as well. Anxious to see where the exchange goes.

[Starscream]

Panels:
I chose flexible for two reasons. First is weight...every pound on Bear Hunt is starting to count, especially at the butt end. Second is that I mounted them on the bimini, so also weight but also sharp edges and low profile. Of course I'd prefer some high efficiency framed panels, but she is just a 26X. Plus, they aren't expensive and they're easy to replace. Two season later and they're still perfect.

Charger: with just 100W I wanted the most efficient way of doing things. My mppt is mounted under the the galley and I haven't experienced any radio interference, although I've heard that can be an issue. Radio is located up by the fuse panel.

Batteries. Optima blue top deep cycle agm 75ah, running for maybe 4 or 5 years no with no noticeable degradation, and with the solar I never actually switch to battery 2 even with 5 people on board for up to a week at a time. They're heavy tho. But they fit right in under the aft single-seat.

Inverter: I'm not an expert but the internet told me that I wanted pure sine wave, so it must be true. It told me that some devices are sensitive to poor wave forms, especially laptops, so pure sine wave won.

I'll add ACR to the convo, since most chargers have only one output it is really nice to have bank2 charged automatically.